A rare deep-sea oarfish was found washed up on a beach in Encinitas, California. This is the second time an oarfish has been found in the area this year.
Oarfish sightings are very rare, with fewer than two dozen seen on the California coast in the past 120 years. They normally inhabit the deep ocean zone where sunlight cannot reach.
Oarfish have an ominous reputation in Japanese folklore, where they are seen as a sign that an earthquake or tsunami could follow their appearance.
In January 2024, an oarfish was found shortly before an earthquake in Taiwan that killed at least 12 people. In 2011, 20 oarfish were discovered on Japanese beaches shortly before one of the country’s most powerful earthquakes.
Experts say there could be several reasons an oarfish may wash ashore, such as seeking food, finding a comfortable place to live, or potentially being sick and veering off course. However, they downplay the imminent threat of a disaster in California following this latest oarfish sighting.
Source: The Telegraph
